5,000 marijuana stalks uprooted in Balamban

CEBU, Philippines - At least P1 million worth of marijuana stalks were uprooted by authorities in the mountain barangay of Matun-og, Balamban town on Wednesday.

Joint forces of Balamban Police Station and the Special Forces of the Philippine Army uprooted exactly 5,000 fully-grown marijuana stalks beside a creek in Sitio Cabatbatan, Barangay Matun-og, which is located some 20 kilometers away from the town proper.

Police Officer 1 Monchito Clarin of Balamban police said informants reported to have seen the huge marijuana plantation near a creek in Sitio Cabatbatan, prompting them to send troops to validate the report.

But since the area was mountainous, they sought the help of PA’s Special Forces based in the town.

Clarin said the troops assembled at around 3 a.m. and proceeded to the area. But because it was secluded that only carabaos can have access to the plantation, the troops reached their destination only at around 9 a.m.

The law enforcers noticed that the marijuana stalks were carefully planted in the creek to apparently avoid being seen easily by passersby.

They immediately uprooted the marijuana stalks that totaled to 5,000.

The law enforcers, however, failed to arrest anyone who maintains the plantation when they swooped down the area.

In the same area, the troops later burned down majority of the marijuana stalks while leaving a few to be submitted as evidence.

Based on the Dangerous Drugs Board estimates, the uprooted marijuana amounted to P1 million.

In March, over P6 million worth of marijuana plants were uprooted by authorities in Barangay Bayong, also inBalamban.

Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 and members of the 5th Special Forces Company of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion uprooted at least 33,000 stalks of fully-grown marijuana plants and 4,000 seedlings, the largest haul so far.  (FREEMAN)